%ISOlat1;
%ISOlat2;
%ISOnum;
%ISOpub;
]>
The famous Flower of SERVING-MEN. / OR, / The Lady turn'd Serving-Man. / Her Lord being slain, her Father dead, / Her Bower robb'd, her Servants fled; / She drest her self in Mans attire: / She trimm'd her Locks, she cut her Hair; / And therewithal she chang'd her Name, / From Fair ELISE to Sweet WILLIAM.Price, LawrenceUniversity of California - Santa BarbaraThe Early Modern CenterDirectorPatricia Fumerton1654-1654Early Modern Center, University of California Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara, CA03/05/201231819

The University of California makes a claim of copyright only to original
contributions made by Early Modern Center participants and other members of
the university community. The University of California makes no claim of
copyright to the original text. Permission is granted to download, transmit
or otherwise reproduce, distribute or display the contributions to this work
claimed by The University of California for non-profit educational purposes,
provided that this header is included in its entirety. For inquiries about
commercial uses, please contact:

Patricia FumertonEarly Modern Center - English DepartmentUniversity of CaliforniaSanta Barbara, CA 93105United States of AmericaEMail: pfumer@english.ucsb.edu

R1769424a delicate new TuneWert Thou More Fairer Than Thou Art A delicate New TuneFlora farewelWert Thou More Fairer Than Thou Art Flora, FarewellLoves TideWert Thou More Fairer Than Thou Art Love's TideSummer timeWert Thou More Fairer Than Thou Art Summertime YOu beauteous Ladies great and small, / I write unto you one and all,STand up brave Youth the King reply'd, / Thy service shall not be deny'd:
Information in this section of the Source Description
refers to the original ballad manuscript.
1: 111The famous Flower of SERVING-MEN. / OR, / The Lady turn'd Serving-Man. / Her Lord being slain, her Father dead, / Her Bower robb'd, her Servants fled; / She drest her self in Mans attire: / She trimm'd her Locks, she cut her Hair; / And therewithal she chang'd her Name, / From Fair ELISE to Sweet WILLIAM.The famous Flower of SERVING-MEN. OR, The Lady turn'd Serving-Man. Her Lord being slain, her Father dead, Her Bower robb'd, her Servants fled; She drest her self in Mans attire: She trimm'd her Locks, she cut her Hair; And therewithal she chang'd her Name, From Fair ELISE to Sweet WILLIAM.The famous Flower of SERVING MEN. OR, The Lady turned Serving Man. Her Lord being slain, her Father dead, Her Bower robbed, her Servants fled; She dressed herself in Man's attire: She trimmed her Locks, she cut her Hair; And there withal she changed her Name, From Fair ELISE to Sweet WILLIAM.Price, Lawrence1654-1654John Andrews

The famous Flower of SERVING-MEN.OR,The Lady turnd Serving-Man.Her Lord being slain, her Father dead,Her Bower robbd, her Servants fled;She drest her self in Mans attire:She trimmd her Locks, she cut her Hair;And therewithal she changd her Name,From Fair ELISE to Sweet WILLIAM.To a delicate new Tune, Or, Flora farewel. Summer time. Or, Loves Tide.

YOu beauteous Ladies great and small,I write unto you one and all,Whereby that you may understandWhat I have suffered in this Land.I was by birth a Lady fair,My Fathers chief and onely Heir.But when my good old Father dyd,Then was I made a young Knights Bride.And then my Love built me a Bower,Bedeckt with many a fragrant flower;A braver Bower you never did see,Then my true Lover built for me.But there came Thieves late in the night,They broke my Bower, and slew my Knight,And after that my Knight was slain,I could no longer there remain:For my servants all from me did fly,Ith midst of my extremity,And left me by my self alone,With a heart more cold then any stone.

Yet though my heart was full of grief & care,Heaven would not suffer me to despair,Wherefore in haste I changd my name,From fair Elise to sweet William.And therewithall I cut my hair,And drest my self in Mans attire;My Doublet, Hose, and Beaver Hat,And a golden Band about my Neck.With a silver Raypier by my side,So like a Gallant I did ride:The thing that I delighted on,Was for to be a Serving-man.Thus in my sumptuous mans array,I bravely rode along the way;And at the last it chanced so,That I unto the Kings Court did go.Then to the King I bowed full low,My love and duty for to show,And so much favour I did crave,That I a Serving-mans place might have.

The Second Part, to the same Tune.

STand up brave Youth the King replyd,Thy service shall not be denyd:But tell me first what thou canst do,Thou shalt be fitted thereunto.Wilt thou be Usher of my Hall,To wait upon my Nobles all?Or wilt thou be Taster of my Wine,To wait on me when I do dine?Or wilt thou be my Chamberlain,To make my Bed both soft and fine:Or wilt thou be one of my Guard,And I will give thee thy reward.Sweet William with a smiling face,Said to the King, Ift please your Grace,To shew such favour unto me,Your Chamberlain I fain would be.The King then did his Nobles call,To ask the Counsel of them all;Who gave consent sweet William he,The Kings own Chamberlain should be.Now mark what strange things come to passAs the King one day a hunting was,With all his Lords and noble train,Sweet William did at home remain.Sweet William had no company thanWith him at home, but an old man;And when he saw the coast was clear,He took a Lute which he had there.Upon the Lute sweet William plaid.And to the same he sang and said,With a pleasant and most noble voice,Which made the old mans heart rejoyce.Sweet Williams Song.MY Father was as brave a Lord,As any Europe did afford;My Mother was a Lady bright,My Husband was a valiant Knight.

And I myself a Lady gay,Bedeckt with gorgeous rich array:The bravest Lady in the LandHad not more pleasures to command.I had my Musick every day,Harmonious Lessons for to play:I had my Virgins fair and freeContinually to wait on me.But now alas my Husband is dead,And all my Friends are from me fled:My former joyes are past and gone,For I am now a Serving-man,The End of Sweet Williams Song.At last the King from hunting came,And presently upon the sameHe called for the good old man:And thus to speak the King began.What news, what news, old man (quoth he)What news hast thou for to tell me;Brave news the old man then did say,Sweet William is a Lady gay.If this be true thou tellest me,Ile make thee a Lord of high degree:But if thy words do prove a lye,Thou shalt be hangd up presently.But when the truth the King had found,His joyes did more and more abound;According as the old man did say,Sweet William was a Lady gay.Wherefore the King without delayPut her on glorious rich array,And upon her head a Crown of Gold,Which was most famous to behold.And then for fear of further strife,He took sweet William to his Wife:The like before was never seen,A Serving-man to be a Queen.

FINIS. L. P. Entred according to Order.London, Printed for John Andrews, at the White Lion near Pye-Corner.